How far is an extension of \(p\)-adic fields from having a normal integral basis? (Q2064329)

Let \(L/K\) be a finite Galois extension of \(p\)-adic fields with Galois group \(G\), and denote the valuation rings of these fields with \(\mathcal O_L\) and \(\mathcal O_K\), resp.. The authors investigate the minimal index \(m(L/K)\) of a free \(\mathcal O_K[G]\)-module contained in \(\mathcal O_L\). It is well-known that for \(L/K\) at most tamely ramified one has \(m(L/K)=1\), i.e., \(L\) has a normal integral basis. The authors show that \(m(L/K)\) can be determined with a finite, effective procedure, and in Theorem 1.4 give an explicit upper bound for (the \(p\)-exponent of) \(m(L/K)\) in the general case. Supposing that \(L\) is an abelian extension of \(\mathbb Q_p\) with \(p\) odd, the explicit value for \(m(L/K)\) is given in Theorem 1.6. This is obtained from the known results on the Galois module structure of \(\mathcal O_L\) (local version of Leopoldt's Theorem). If \(p=2\), the authors indicate how the value of \(m(L/K)\) can be obtained in an analogous way. For the case \([L:K]=p\), Theorem 1.7 gives the explicit value of \(m(L/K)\), which depends on whether the ramification jump is divisible by \(p\) or not. The proof of the latter case uses an explicit \(\mathcal O_K\)-basis of \(\mathcal O_L\) and detailed calculations with the valuations of appropriate elements (Section 6 of the paper). Finally, the authors use these tools to give another proof for a theorem of \textit{F. Bertrandias} and \textit{M.-J. Ferton} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. A 274, 1330--1333 (1972; Zbl 0235.12007)], stated in Theorem 1.8.